Countdown to London Olympics

April 28

No cap on UK visas for Chinese during Olympics

All Chinese tourists who plan to visit the UK this summer are welcome, no matter if they are coming for the Olympics, on a business trip or for recreational shopping, said Green, dismissing rumors that only a limited number of Chinese tourists will be allowed to visit during the Olympics. [Full story]

CAS to issue decision on British life ban

The British Olympic Association (BOA) will learn on Monday whether its lifetime Olympic ban on drug offenders has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

A statement from the independent Lausanne-based court on Friday said it would issue its decision at 1400GMT on Monday. [Full story]

April 27

Chen, Gade make final push for Olympics

With the 7,000 Olympics points he got for winning the Asia Championships, Chen Jin is now less than 2,000 points ahead of Denmark's Pete Gade, to sit at world No 4 and halfway to securing China's third men's singles berth in London.

Gade's Olympic dream could still come true – if he wins the ongoing India Super Series, which means he and Chen probably will meet for a showdown in the semifinals. [Full story]

Bolt may be foiled by London weather

Britain's cool, damp weather is likely to cost triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt the opportunity to break his 100 metres world record at the London Olympics, his coach said on Thursday.

Although Bolt has promised something spectacular at the Games from July 27-Aug. 12, coach Glen Mills said breaking his 100 metres record of 9.58 seconds set in Berlin three years ago might be asking too much.[Full story]

April 26

David Beckham on Britain's Olympic squad short-list

Ex-England captain Beckham, who will turn 37 on the day Pearce watches him in Seattle, is widely expected to be one of the three over-age players in the Under-23 Olympic squad, but Pearce said he would select players solely on form and fitness. "David Beckham will be treated exactly the same as any other individual, whether it is young or over-age," he said. [Full story]

1,000 Chinese wrestlers to vie for 50 Olympic spots

Some 1,000 wrestlers from over 80 countries and regions will be competing at the Olympic qualification tournament which starts here on Friday, with a total of 50 spots up for grabs. [Full story]

April 25

Kenyan marathon team has sweet burden

Kenya's athletics chiefs face a difficult decision when selecting their marathon teams for the London Olympics following recent world-class performances by their runners.

Kenya looks set to dominate the Olympic marathons in August after their runners won the London men's and women's events on Sunday and took five of the six podium positions for the second consecutive year. [Full story]

'Plastic brits' do it for the paper

Foreign-born athletes who have taken UK citizenship ahead of the 2012 London Olympics have been dubbed "Plastic Brits" by critics, but the most famous sportswoman to have made that journey is sympathetic. [Full story]

April 24

Boat race protester banned from torch route

The protester who halted Britain's annual boat race this month by swimming into the crews' path has been banned by a court from going near the route of the Olympic torch for fear he could try to make a political point. [Full story]

London 2012 doping lab gets WADA approval

The doping laboratory that will process more than 6,000 samples at this year's London Olympics has been given the seal of approval by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The London 2012 organising committee have vowed to leave no stone unturned in the battle to catch drug cheats at this year's Games and will conduct its anti-doping operation at a sprawling site owned by chemical giant GlaxoSmithKline, 30 kilometres north of the main Olympic hub. [Full story]

April 23

Chinese athletes cautious with meat

"The administration has never banned athletes from eating meat. It just reminded them to be on alert," said Chen Zhiyu, head of the general office of GASC's science and education department.

The athletes assembled at the national training center in Beijing are not allowed to have meals in restaurants outside the base.

"We can't afford to take any risks at the crucial moment now. All our athletes have to eat only in the center's canteen, even when they have a day off." said Ye Zhennan, manager of the national gymnastics team, during a media session last Friday. [Full story]

UK conducts dress rehearsal for torch relay

Olympic officials conducted a test run Friday of one part of the Olympic torch relay - a full dress rehearsal to test timings, security issues and traffic patterns.

Some 122 volunteers were running with the Olympic torch Friday, but it wasn't lit. The flame comes when the actual torch relay starts from Land's End - the westernmost tip of England - next month. [Full story]

Chen Jin one step away from London Olympics

Lin Dan isn't just China's top-ranked player. He's so good, he's even earning Olympic berths for other people now.

Chen Jin lauded Lin's decision to go home early after Chen swept compatriot Du Pengyu, 2-0, in the final of the 2012 Badminton Asia Championships in Qingdao on Sunday.

The win gave Chen 7,000 points and helped him surpass Denmark's Peter Gade to became the world No 4 in the Olympic qualification contest. [Full story]

 

April 20

Russia expects 25 gold medals in London Olympics

Russia on Thursday set a minimum target of 25 gold medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, in a bid to reach a top-three place in the medal table.

"Twenty-five gold medals, I think, is the minimum that will allow us to finish the Olympic Games in London among the world's three strongest sporting powers," National Olympic Committee President Alexander Zhukov said. [Full story]

Men's basketball team heat up for Olympics

China's national men's basketball team gathered for open training as preparation for the London 2012 Olympics in Beijing on Thursday.

Head Coach Bob Donewald told the media that the team will have its first cutback after three warm-up matches in mid-May.

China's retired basketball legend Yao Ming also showed up on the training court. [Full story]

April 19

8 months pregnant shooter to compete in London

The 29-year-old Malaysian shooter Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi, who is due to give birth to her first child less than a month after the London Games end, will stand on the finish line for air rifle events during the London Games.

"I will talk to my baby before I compete... 'no kicking, stay calm for one hour and 15 minutes only please'", said Suryani, who won two gold medals in last year's Southeast Asian Games and a bronze medal at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. [Full story]

Tomatoes branded with Chinese Olympians

Tianshenghe Foods and Beverage Co Ltd of Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, signed a partnership deal with the China National Sports Training Center (NSTC), making the company's tomato juice the official drink of the center.

"Thanks to the social support of companies such as Tianshenghe, we achieved outstanding results," said Wang Lusheng, party secretary of the NSTC. "The deal will definitely help China's athletes prepare for the Olympics and achieve excellent results in London. [Full story]